Remember Why You Started: Simon Sinek

Remember Why You Started: Simon Sinek

This week has been brutal. I’ve been on the road nearly every day for three weeks now and the pace won’t let up for another four weeks. A new city nearly everyday. I’m racking up more frequent flyer miles than anyone I know. The problem is, I’m having trouble finding time to exercise, I don’t get to see my friends and, just from the sheer pace of it all, I’m exhausted.

Second thoughts

There have been evenings when I’ve wondered if it’s worth it. This is an entirely new thought for me — and I don’t like thinking it. Intellectually, I know that it’s because I’m tired, but that doesn’t change the fact that my energy is not in the right place. The challenge is, what do I do?

This surreal journey I’m on is more than just sharing a powerful message with people or a desire to build a movement that inspires people to inspire those around them. This is also about learning and becoming a better version of me. It sounds cheesy to even write those words. It sounds so self-help-section-of-the-bookstore. But since this journey began, I’ve stopped trying to compensate for, or overcome, my weaknesses, and have instead been focused on amplifying my strengths — in other words, be a better version of me. And it is only from the people I’ve had the good fortune to meet that I am learning the lessons to guide me.

Sources of inspiration

Baz Luhrmann, director of Moulin Rouge, for example, has a childlike curiosity about the world. He doesn’t pretend to know all the answers — quite the opposite, in fact. He asks loads of questions of everyone. It’s amazing to watch him learn and soak it all in. He doesn’t always agree, but he always wants to learn more.

Bob Chapman, CEO of Barry-Wehmiller, a company few of us have ever heard of, is another brilliant leader. When he talks about the success of his company, he doesn’t talk about the size or numbers, he talks about the people. He talks about the culture. He talks about the sheer joy he has for going to work and seeing that others feel the same way. Sitting down with Bob, he made me feel like an equal. He is open and humble. It’s when he walks away that I have to remind myself that he’s a CEO of a really big company.